The cast of The Handmaid's Tale visits WIRED to answer the 50 most searched for questions about the show as it enters its sixth and final season. Watch Elisabeth Moss (June Osborne/Offred), Madeline Brewer (Janine Lindo/Ofwarren/Ofdaniel/Ofhoward), Ann Dowd (Aunt Lydia), Amanda Brugel (Rita), Yvonne Strahovski (Serena Joy Waterford), and Samira Wiley (Moira Strand) show off their knowledge of the series and it's dystopian world in rapid-fire fashion. When is the show set? Why did June spit out the cookie? How did Moira escape? Answers to these and 47 more questions await on The 50 Most Googled Questions: Handmaid's Tale
Season 6 of The Handmaid's Tale premiered April 8 and runs through May 27 on Hulu.
Season 6 of The Handmaid's Tale premiered April 8 and runs through May 27 on Hulu.
Category
🤖
TechTranscript
00:00Okay, ready?
00:01You want to practice?
00:02No, I think I've got it.
00:06We're going to rehearse?
00:07Do you want to practice?
00:08We're the cast of The Handmaid's Tale, and we're going to answer the most Googled questions.
00:19Where does The Handmaid's Tale take place?
00:22They're going to want real answers.
00:24Boston.
00:25Yeah, Boston.
00:26I mean, sometimes we go outside of Boston, but it's basically Boston.
00:29Cambridge, Boston.
00:30Cambridge, yeah, exactly.
00:31What does blessed be the fruit mean?
00:34Wait, doesn't it mean your...
00:36Your ovaries.
00:37The fruit of your womb.
00:38The fruit of your womb.
00:39The fruit of your womb.
00:40The babies that come.
00:41Yeah, may it be fruitful.
00:42Why can't the wives of Gilead get pregnant?
00:45Well, some of us can.
00:48Let's be fair.
00:49Okay, the serious answer is there is a fertility crisis.
00:52In our dystopian future.
00:55You know, as the spokeswoman for this kind of thing, I will say that there was an environmental
01:02crisis in our dystopian future where we are setting Gilead.
01:05And look at me on my podium.
01:06We only picked the most fertile ones.
01:09I got into character too much.
01:11Can you do that one?
01:12Can a handmaid become a wife?
01:14Absolutely not.
01:15Nice.
01:16Nice.
01:17It hit the box.
01:18Oh, I like this one.
01:19Why did June spit out the cookie?
01:22What season was this?
01:23Oh, the macaroon?
01:26Yeah, it was too sweet.
01:28You did it out of spite.
01:29Out of spite because someone, either Naomi or you gave it to me and...
01:33And you were like...
01:34And I was like, bleh.
01:36The answer is because of spite.
01:39Okay.
01:40Why did Aunt Lydia take Janine's eye?
01:42This is probably a better question answered by you, but I...
01:45You do what you'd like, dear.
01:46I'll correct you.
01:47Aunt Lydia took Janine's eye because she was teaching her a lesson, right?
01:56But also she spoke out of turn and she was...
01:58Yes, but she also said, fuck off, twice.
02:01And I told her to stop it.
02:02It was the second one that did it.
02:03And I said, don't do it again, and she did.
02:05Oh, no.
02:06She was warned.
02:07Oh, no.
02:09She was warned.
02:10She was warned.
02:11That's fair.
02:12So, the punishment fits the crime.
02:14Yep.
02:15Okay.
02:16Why did Rita tell Fred that Serena was pregnant?
02:18I don't know.
02:19You wanted to create chaos for me, remember?
02:21Wasn't that the whole thing?
02:22Yes, that's why.
02:23Was it?
02:24Yeah.
02:25Why would you not want Fred to know?
02:26Yeah, why would you not want him to know?
02:27No, because I was in detention and I didn't want him to know because I was done with him
02:32by that point, right?
02:33Uh-oh.
02:34And I was like, no.
02:35But he still was going to find out at some point, no?
02:36But also, at the time, I also thought, because you know how important babies are to Rita,
02:40I also thought perhaps it is something that he should be involved in because he's still
02:46the father.
02:47Right.
02:48It was a fucked up thing to...
02:49Uh-oh.
02:50She's fucked up.
02:51That's my answer.
02:52That's it.
02:53Perfect.
02:54Why did they cut off Serena's finger in The Handmaid's Tale?
02:58Guys, I have the finger in my handbag today.
03:00I took my set bag here and I haven't used it since the last day on set.
03:05Aww.
03:06And that was the last thing that gave me the finger.
03:08Okay, so why did they cut off Serena's finger?
03:10Do you remember?
03:11Because I read from a book in front of the whole, you know, panel of men that run Gilead and
03:20to prove a point to try and advocate for women's rights, actually.
03:24Defensive again.
03:25Here's Serena on her podium.
03:28Does Aunt Lydia turn on Gilead?
03:30I can't answer that, sorry.
03:32There you go.
03:33Thank you very much.
03:34Throw it.
03:35That's a spoiler.
03:36How did Moira escape?
03:38Murder.
03:39Murder and, um, driving.
03:43Took care of it.
03:44Yeah.
03:45Took care of it.
03:46Now when is The Handmaid's Tale set?
03:48In a dystopian future, right?
03:50So it's kind of now but in the future?
03:51Present.
03:52I thought it was a parallel...
03:53Parallel present.
03:54Parallel present.
03:55Yeah, basically.
03:56Why did June cut her ear on The Handmaid's Tale?
03:58Uh, because I think she was trying to get her tag off, right?
04:00Yeah.
04:01Because she didn't want to get, uh, wreck it.
04:02She was escaping.
04:03She did cut it.
04:04You cut your ear off?
04:05Yeah, remember I cut off the part that has the, um, tag?
04:08You are so hardcore.
04:10I know.
04:11Remember all the blood?
04:12It was like all...
04:13I am super cool.
04:14What did June write on the wall in The Handmaid's Tale?
04:17Don't let the bastard...
04:18Exactly.
04:19It's better in Latin.
04:20Nolite De Bastardus Carbon Dorm.
04:22Don't let the bastards grind you down.
04:24You have that nailed.
04:25I love it.
04:26I know, she really does.
04:27She does.
04:28Thanks, guys.
04:29Does Rita survive The Handmaid's Tale?
04:30No.
04:31I mean, come on.
04:32Like...
04:33No.
04:34Like suspense, though, no?
04:35Yes.
04:36Metaphorically.
04:37Yeah.
04:38What happened to Janine and Esther in The Handmaid's Tale?
04:41Meaning, like, that scene where you...
04:43Yeah.
04:44Which you directed.
04:45Yeah.
04:46So that's a you question.
04:47They eat the chocolate and Esther got poisoned.
04:48Mm-hmm.
04:49Right?
04:50That's what they're talking about?
04:51Well, you also got poisoned.
04:52Huh?
04:53Yeah, sorry.
04:54You got poisoned, too.
04:55I apologize.
04:56You did get poisoned, as well.
04:57In The Handmaid's Tale.
04:58It means you're under his protection.
05:00He will keep his eye upon you.
05:01But who's he, though?
05:02Doesn't it?
05:03Oh, God.
05:04Toss.
05:05There it is.
05:06Oh, Arthur.
05:07Two times.
05:08Two times.
05:09I'm sorry, dear.
05:10What does, may the Lord open, mean?
05:13May the Lord open your fruitful womb.
05:16Amen.
05:17Body.
05:18Legs.
05:19Entrance.
05:20Entrance.
05:21A haiku.
05:22That was really beautiful.
05:23I like that.
05:24Moving.
05:25Mayhem.
05:26How did they determine who was sent to Jezebel's?
05:28I think it's just like a punishment thing.
05:31I remember having a speech about I had a choice.
05:35I could go to Jezebel's or the colonies.
05:38Oh, yeah.
05:39Yeah.
05:40That is a little confusing, being a fertile person.
05:42Yeah.
05:43I think it's also just, I mean, they break the rules all the time, right?
05:46Yeah.
05:47So it's like, it also was just a punishment.
05:48It's kind of like, what did they eat today?
05:50Exactly.
05:51Because I was sent to the colonies straight off.
05:53In previous seasons, she was sent to the Jezebel's.
05:55I was just being a little too rambunctious.
05:57Mouthy?
05:58Mouthy.
05:59Again, once again, with the mouth.
06:00I did.
06:01One eye wasn't enough.
06:03Is Nick a part of May Day?
06:06Oh, not a Nick question.
06:07Oh, actually.
06:08Wait, do I know the answer to this?
06:09No, actually, though.
06:10Complicated, dark, and stormy.
06:12That's weird.
06:13Haikus just left and right.
06:15Boom, boom, boom.
06:16Haikus left and right.
06:17Oh, guys.
06:19Does June love Nick or Luke?
06:22Tell us, doll.
06:23Can we order cocktails?
06:25Talk about it?
06:26I love that girl talk about it.
06:27I know.
06:28Yeah.
06:29It's a lovely question.
06:30I've sworn to never answer it, but I do think that if it's possible she loves them both
06:35in very different ways, you know?
06:37And I think that her and Luke have something that is so special, and her and Nick have something
06:42that is so special.
06:43And that's why it's a love triangle.
06:45But which one is special and sexy?
06:47I know.
06:48Oh, come on.
06:49Oh, come on.
06:50That's like an impossible choice.
06:51I can't.
06:52I can't choose.
06:53Right?
06:54I mean, maybe you can't do that.
06:56Why do handmaids wear red?
06:57Blood.
06:58I mean, that's what comes to mind.
07:01Margaret Atwood.
07:02Fertile.
07:03The fertility.
07:04Yeah, that makes sense, because they still have menstruation.
07:08Yeah.
07:09And also it's a color that represents like the scarlet letter.
07:12Oh, true.
07:13It represents.
07:14Shame.
07:15Shame and, you know what I mean?
07:17It's like being.
07:18Oh, that's a lot.
07:19Yeah.
07:20So that's actually why they put us in red, I believe.
07:22Put that one down.
07:23Does Luke have a job?
07:29Oh my God.
07:30I think dutifully waiting for me to return is a job.
07:34June's a handful.
07:35That's enough of a job.
07:36Isn't he a contractor?
07:37Isn't he in construction?
07:38What?
07:39Right?
07:40That is not.
07:41I'm not making it up.
07:42He's in construction.
07:44Wow.
07:45He was just immediately like, immediately like, what?
07:48Yes, no, you're right.
07:49Can you picture O.T. as a construction worker?
07:50No.
07:51No, no, no.
07:52I'm thinking about it.
07:53I can't.
07:54Does Hannah get out of Gilead?
07:55Million dollar question.
07:56There's a thing is, is if you keep Googling, you will find out the answer to this.
08:00This is on the internet.
08:01Because it's in the book.
08:02Oh, because it's in the book.
08:03Because it's in the book.
08:04Because it's in the book.
08:05Because it's in the book.
08:06Because it's in the book.
08:07You wrote that.
08:08Oh.
08:09So we know what happened.
08:10Well, if it's on Google, can't we just tell them?
08:11I mean, can we say it with our teeth clenched like this?
08:13No, you can't.
08:14They can't hear you if you're talking.
08:16It's a funny question, because it is out there, the answer, actually.
08:19You can watch the sequel on Hulu.
08:21What happened to Rita's son in The Handmaid's Tale?
08:24Oh, he died.
08:25Fighting.
08:26Interesting.
08:27I've never known what side, and I always also chose that he was fighting for Gilead.
08:31The last time I saw him, we got in a fight because I didn't want him to fight for Gilead,
08:34and he did, and he was like, I love Serena Joy, I'm going to fight for her.
08:37And then he went off and he got killed.
08:39And that was the last time I saw him.
08:41What's your process?
08:42I'm serious.
08:43She's a real actress.
08:45But don't you think that would be more interesting if that he...
08:48Yes, whatever you're going to say.
08:50Yes.
08:51That's it.
08:52100%.
08:53Way more interesting.
08:54What song did Janine sing to her baby in The Handmaid's Tale?
08:57I think there's two.
08:58The Bob Marley song, Three Little Birds.
09:00And then she sings I Only Want to Be With You by Dusty Springfield.
09:04Good for you, honey.
09:05I think it's just the two.
09:06I do sing quite a bit.
09:08You sing quite a bit.
09:09But she has an amazing voice.
09:12Why does Aunt Lydia have such a soft spot for Janine?
09:16She treated her very unfairly originally.
09:18Took the ear.
09:19I mean, ooh, I didn't take your ear.
09:21Took her eye and I think she regrets it.
09:24And I think she comes to love Janine as her child.
09:29How does Moira rebel?
09:31The first thing I'm thinking of is capturing that aunt and taking off all of her clothes
09:37and putting them on myself and then like walking out of the Red Center.
09:42Just like walking out because I'm an aunt and then like getting on a train and like leaving
09:46and then fighting from the outside because that's what you do.
09:52Who is the father of Serena's baby in The Handmaid's Tale?
09:55Well, it's...
09:56Who else would it be?
09:57Yeah.
09:58I think there's theories.
10:00So many theories that people think it's Mark.
10:02Everyone wants it to be Mark.
10:03Yes.
10:04If it was Mark, we definitely would have shot that scene.
10:07That would not have been off camera.
10:10Does Serena Joy like Alfred?
10:13Ooh.
10:15Listen, I think she secretly wants a bestie.
10:18Yeah.
10:19And she's got nothing and no one.
10:22So, yeah.
10:23But she like hates her too.
10:25Okay, so she only likes June because she has no one else?
10:30But she also secretly hates her?
10:32I mean...
10:33That's absolutely not true.
10:34I mean...
10:35It's complex.
10:36Serena's obsessed with June.
10:37She wants them to be best friends.
10:38She wants her in her life.
10:40She wants her approval.
10:41She wants her approval.
10:42Definitely an approval factor.
10:43Yeah.
10:44Alfred does that to people.
10:45Yes.
10:46Don't you think?
10:47She loves June.
10:48Like, Aunt Lydia has a love-hate with her.
10:50Yeah.
10:51Well, that's more interesting, isn't it?
10:52I mean, it's more interesting if there's complexity.
10:54I'm not looking for a best friend or anything, but I think there's tremendous respect for...
10:59Yeah.
11:00...her courage.
11:01Oh.
11:02And her commitment and so on.
11:04Yeah, yeah.
11:05Will Hannah and June ever be reunited?
11:08You'll have to watch this show and you'll have to watch the sequel.
11:11Yeah.
11:12What happens to June's baby in The Handmaid's Tale?
11:15Like, the second one?
11:16Nicole?
11:17How many babies you got?
11:18I don't know.
11:19If they're referring to her as the baby, it's probably...
11:21Right.
11:22Nicole.
11:23Nicole.
11:24Yeah.
11:25What happens to June's baby in the...
11:26I mean, you have to watch the show.
11:27Stop Googling the show.
11:28Watch the show.
11:29Watch it.
11:30I've become her mother for a while.
11:31Who is Aunt Lydia in The Handmaid's Tale?
11:33Well, that's a terrifying question.
11:36I mean, she was a very strict aunt to begin with.
11:41She's the head of the aunt.
11:42She's no fool.
11:44She does not want to be under anyone else.
11:47The beautiful girls who she loves gradually, I think, change her.
11:52And you'll have to see how that happens.
11:54Because you'll see.
11:55How did June and Moira first meet?
11:57In college.
11:58We were college roommates.
11:59Oh, really?
12:00I was going to ask you before, but then I was like...
12:01Oh, yeah, because...
12:02Then I was like, just be confident.
12:03Say that.
12:04Samira?
12:05Yeah.
12:06It's the answer now.
12:07That's what it is.
12:08What is the significance of Moira in The Handmaid's Tale?
12:10I think about when you find the Nolite scratched into the door.
12:15I'm not sure if it's that scene or whatever, but you think about Moira.
12:19June says something like, what would Moira do in this situation?
12:23And I've almost thought of them, like, switching roles a little bit during the course of it.
12:28Like, you becoming the badass that you are and Moira following you in a way.
12:35Oh, I like that.
12:36I've always thought that the inspiration for her being everything that she is was me.
12:40Moira's very brave.
12:41Yeah.
12:42I mean, she really puts it out there in ways that others aren't willing to or able to.
12:47Yeah.
12:48I do think that some of your, I was going to say go-get-em-ness, that is not what I mean.
12:54It is now.
12:55Yeah.
12:56Yeah.
12:57Has come from the inspiration of thinking about your friend.
12:59But also, I do think that being on the outside of Gilead and Moira not being able to do anything,
13:05that her spirit is kind of diminished a little bit.
13:08That's a really good memory, though, because it is true.
13:10Like, in the beginning, Moira was June's inspiration.
13:13Yeah.
13:14Moira was stronger and braver and got out.
13:17Yes.
13:18And now I do feel like Moira, for Moira now, June is now her inspiration.
13:24Yeah.
13:25Especially coming up.
13:26What was Serena Joy's job before Gilead?
13:29She wrote a book about women and that she thought they should go home and have babies
13:37and not do much else than that, really.
13:40That was her job, to inspire other women to feel the same way as her.
13:46Mm-hmm.
13:47Yeah.
13:48She's right here.
13:49What happened to Moira in The Handmaid's Tale?
13:52If we're talking about season one, or we're talking about-
13:56I guess so.
13:58She escapes.
13:59She escapes and then she fights from the outside.
14:01Does June ever get Hannah back?
14:06I guess you're going to have to watch the show.
14:08Yeah.
14:09Spoiler alert.
14:10And then you're going to have to watch the sequel.
14:11Yeah.
14:12Oh, my God.
14:13It's over.
14:14Thank God.
14:16It's harder than making the show.
14:19Hey, everyone.
14:20You're welcome.
14:21Yay.
14:22Those are all of the questions.
14:25Thanks for watching.
14:27Bye.